Couch bed



.J. MARTIN May 24, 1938.

coucn BED '2 Sheets-Sheet l R Wm R A 'Filed r eb. 15, 1955 Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUCH BED Application February 15, 1933, Serial No. 656,790-

9 Claims.

This invention relates to couch beds in general and more especially to combination single and double beds.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved combination single and double bed consisting of a fixed main frame, a movable secondary frame operatively connected to said main frame to be moved under said main frame into single bed formation and to be moved to one side of said main frame for double bed formation, and an extension bed section removably connected to said secondary frame to cooperate with said main frame to form a double bed when disposed adjacent to said main frame and to form a separable bed, in which latter case the secondary frame constitutes a convenient means for anchoring the extension bed in concealed position under said main frame when not in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved combination Single and double bed consisting of a fixed main bed section, an auxiliary bed section, a frame operatively connected to said main bed section when disposed in extended position to removably anchor said auxiliary bed section adjacent to said main bed section in double bed formation and when housed under said main bed section adapted to anchor said auxiliary bed section in housed position under said main bed section.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved means for operatively connecting to a main bed section a carriage or frame adapted to anchor an auxiliary bed section in housed position under said main bed section or in double bed formation adjacent to said main bed section, which connecting means function properly to guide the carriage and auxiliary bed section into and out of said main bed section.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved actuating means for catapulting or projecting to one side of a main bed section an auxiliary bed section normally housed within said main bed section.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved connecting means for removably connecting the auxiliary bed section to a carriage which is operatively connected to a main bed section to be moved into and out of the same, which connecting means are not only simple in construction but in addition can be produced at low cost.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the 55 subjoined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of a couch bed made 7 according to the present invention;

Fig. '2 is an enlarged fragmental plane view 5 showing the bed sections in double bed formation;

Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged fragmental end elevation partly in section showing the bed sections in double bed formation; and 10 Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. a

In the embodimentillustrated, there is provided a main bed section I, which in the present instance also constitutes the main frame, and a 15 removable bed section or extension bed section 2 which may be moved into and out of said main bed section I.

The main bed section I preferably is provided withfour standards or vertically extending angle 20 irons 3 which are connected to the corners of the rectangular metal frame 4 which is preferably provided with a wire support 5 and coil springs 6 forming the inner springs of a'built-in mattress l for the .main bed section. I. 25

The rectangular frame 4 preferably as illustrated inFig. 3, has along its outer longitudinal edge a bar 8 cooperating with'the mattress I to extend beyond the outer side of the frame 4. On the other hand, the end boards 9 of the main 30 frame I, see particularly Fig. I, extend beyond the outer faces of the corner standards 4 so that their front ends are in alinement with the upper face of the mattress I.

In single bed formation or couch formation, 5 there is loosely laid or separably laid on the mattress I, a second mattress l0 which mattress in double bed formation is removed from the mattress I and laid on the auxiliary bed section 2, as indicated in Fig. 3. 40

The main bed section preferably has small ornamental feet ll formed at the bottom of the standards 3 as indicated in Fig. 1 which however are preferably not provided with rollers to form a substantial anchor with the floor and thus 00- 45 operate with the parts of the couch bed now to be descried.

The auxiliary bed section 2 preferably has a longitudinal frame l2, the outer edge of. which is provided with a front board l3 having at its ends 50 the vertically extending angle irons I4 provided with bearingsat their lower ends for the large rollers M Preferably also adjacent to the rear side of the frame 12 and substantially five-sixths of the distance of the front face to the rear face of the frame i2, there are provided the vertically extending standards secured to the end bars l6 of the frame l2. To the side of the standards |5 and extending rearwardly therefrom, there are provided the brackets I! having at their lower ends bearings for the small rollers I8. These standards l5 are further provided with studs |9 extending rearwardlyfrom the standards -l5 and having enlarged heads formed thereon. These'studs 19 are adapted to engage the V- shaped recesses 2| formed to recede from the upper edge of the longitudinally extending bar '22 of the carriage 23 which has vertically extending standards 24 extending downwardly therefrom having bearing brackets 25 formed thereon to receive the large rollers 26. The standards24 are preferably located near the ends of the bar'22 but spaced fromthe recesses 2|.

, its movement into and out of said main bed section The connecting means consist essentially of a pair of connecting links, to wit thetwo long links 28 and 23 and the two short links '30 and BI res 'iectively. One of the links 29 is pivotally connected to the portion 21 of the bar 22 spaced about one-third of the length of the bar 22 from one end thereof and one end of the link 3| is pivotally connected to the portion '2'! of the bar 22 spaced about one-third of the length of the bar 22 from the other end of the same and the other end of the link 29 is pivotallyconnected to the front end of the link 30 while the other end of the link 3| is pivotally 'connected'to the link 28. The links 28 and'29 are pivotally connected'to one another at a point which is spaced about one-fourth of the length of th'elink 28 'fromits connection with the link 3| and which is spaced about one-fourth of the length of the link 29 from its connection with the link 30.

' The rear end of'the link28 is 'pivotally connected to the horizontal portion 32 of the angle 7 iron. 33'secured to the rear corner standards 3 of the main bed section I. V The connection of the link 28 with theangle iron 33 is disposed at a point spaced about one-third of the length of the main bed section from the right end thereof looking at Fig. 1. I The link 30 is pivotally. connected to 'the portion 32=of the angle iron 33 at a point spaced about one-third of. the length of the main bed-section I from the left end thereof looking at Fig. 1.

For anchoring thefcarriage 23 in position in the main bed section I, with or without the auxiliary bed section 2, there is provided the arm 35 "which is fixed on the shaft 36 journaled in the rear corner uprights 3. The arm 35 is preferably composed of flat stock'and is'provide'd with a vertically extending head portion 31 having a front inclined cam face 38 and a rear shoulder riage *23 against accidental displacement; In

order normallyto maintain the shoulder 39 in such raised position, the springs 40 are provided which connect the levers 41 and 42 with the crosspiece's 43 at each end 'o'fthe :main bed secthe head 31, it will first engage the cam face' 38 to depress the head 31 against the tension of the springs 46 and thereupon slide over the head 31 toand beyond the shoulder 39 when the springs 40 will cause the shaft 36 to rock in turn to raise "the head 31 and cause the shoulder 39 to engage the front face of the bar 22 of the carriage 23. In turn, when it is desired to release the carriage 23, it is of course only necessary to engage either of the pedals 44 and depress the same thereby to rock the shaft 36 and in turn to depress the head 31 out of engagement with the bar 22, when the carriage 23 will be free to be moved out of the main bed section I.

In order automatically to eject the carriage 23 when the pedals 44 are so depressed, there is provided a spring 45 which connects'the link 30 with the endof the abutment 46 extending from the horizontal portion 32 of the" angle iron 33. This spring 45 is of course heavy enough to perform the work required of it. It has been found in practice that a spring of the dimensions indicated in the drawings as compared to the'structure illustrated is 'sufiicient to eject not only the carriage 23 but also the carriage 23 with the bed section I attached thereto as illustrated'i'n Fig. 2.

:From the foregoing, it will appear that the spring 45 andlinks 28, 29, 30 and 3| will cooperate to eject the carriage 23 when the arm 35 is depressed as above described by the actuation of either the lever 4| 'or' the lever 42.

It will also appear that when the carriage 23 is moved into the bed section with or without the bed section 2, that after the arm 35 engages the"-bar,22 'of the carriage 23, it will anchor the same against ejection by the spring' 45 until the arm 35'is again depressed.

In order to determine the position of the bed section 2 relative to the bed section I when ejected into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the stops or limiting means now to be described are provided.v

.Each of thefront corner uprights- 3 of the main bed section is provided with a vertically extending .portion 41 extending inwardly toward one another as illustrated in Fig. 2. The ends of the bar 22 of the "carriage 23 are provided with the rearwardly extending arms '48, each of which has formed thereon two studs, to wit the studs 49 and 50. Each set of studs 49 and 50 travels in a 'slot 5| of a bar 52; extending rearward-1y from the carriage '23. The bars 52, see particularly Fig. 2, have at their extreme inner ends laterally extending portions 53. On the forward face of each of the portions 53, there is provided a suitable resilient buffer 54 adapted .to strike the rear face of an upright portion 41. Therupright portions 41 as indicated in Fig. 3 are cut away above the edge 4! to clear the end bars l6 of the carriage when the carriage is actuated into and out of the chamber formed by the bed section f In other Words, the slots 5|jand studs '49 and 50 are so positioned relative to one another and relative to the length of the'bars '52 and the arms '43'that the engagement ofthe portions 53 by the rear Wall of the main bed section i when the carriage 23 is moved inwardly will permit the bar 22 to pass over and into engagement with the shoulder 39 of the arm 35 and on the other hand when the auxiliary bed section 2 is moved. outwardly, it will permit the carriage 23 tomove far enough beyond the edge of the main bed section I so that the mattresses l and Ill may be disposed adjacent to one another in the position indicated in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing, it will thus appear that the present invention contemplates an improved combination single and double bed which includes a twin bed arrangement in which the auxiliary bed section may be separated from the main bed section and be used independent of, and separated from the main bed section, which includes a catapult bed arrangement in which the auxiliary bed section may at will be automatically. ejected from the main bed section and which includes a carriage operatively connected to the main bed section to which an auxiliary bed section may be connected to facilitate an-- choring the auxiliary bed section to the main bed section in double bed formation as well as in couch formation.

It will also appear from the foregoing that the links 28, 29, 30 and 3| cooperate not only to guide and control the position of the carriage 23 and therewith of the auxiliary bed section 2 relative to the main bed section I but that it also cooperates with the spring 45 to eject the carriage 23 automatically when the locking mechanism is actuated and that it also cooperates to position the carriage 23 to be automatically anchored by the head 3! of the locking mechanism.

To facilitate smooth operation of the carriage 23 and auxiliary bed section 2 during ejection or return movement, the position of the rollers i8 is such that they will not engage the floor but only the rollers 25 and of course the rollers M On the other hand, when the auxiliary bed section 2 is separated from the carriage 23, the auxiliary bed section 2 will be supported on the rollers l8 and M the rollers l8 thus merely serving as auxiliary rollers to cooperate with the rollers I l when the auxiliary bed section 2 is separated from the carriage 23. In operation, assuming the bed section 2 to be inside the bed section l and that the shoulder 39 of the latch head 31 engages the bar 22 to anchor the carriage and therewith the bed section 2 in single bed formation, it will only be necessary to depress one of the pedals 44 in turn to depress the latch head 31 out of engagement with the bar 22 when the spring 45 will be free to eject the carriage 23 and therewith the movable bed section 2. In its outward movement, the levers 28, 30, 29 and 3| will then open in turn to cause the pairs of bars 52, 48 to move into their extended position, that shown in Fig. 3, where the bed section 2 will be disposed adjacent the bed section I in double bed formation. The position of the bed section 2 will be determined by the buffers 54 engaging the flanges 41.

In this extended position of the bed section 2, it will of course be a simple matter to raise the bed section 2 and therewith its studs 19 out of engagement with the recesses 2! entirely to separate the bed section 2 from the bed section I.

On the other hand, after the bed section 2 has been connected to the carriage 23 by the positioning of the studs 19 in the recesses 2|, it will only be necessary thereupon when it is desired to actuate the bed section 2 into single bed formation inside the bed section I to move the bed section 2 into the chamber formed in bed section I until the latch head 31 again engages the bar 22 of the carriage 23.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general formed along its upper edge, studs on said auxiliary bed section adapted to rest in said recesses, and heads on said studs to engage the side of said bar to form an abutment for carrying the auxiliary bed section with said carriage during movement thereof.

- 2. A main bed section having a chamber, a carriage, links for operatively connecting the carriage inside of said main bed section to move into and out of said chamber, an auxiliary bed section, rollers on which said auxiliary bed-section and carriage are mounted to facilitate moving the same along the floor relative to said main bed section as an anchor, said carriage having a longitudinally extending bar having recesses formed along its upper edge, studs extending from one side of said auxiliary bed section and adapted to rest in said recesses, and heads on said studs, the heads and side of said auxiliary bed section functioning as abutments to facilitate carrying the auxiliary bed section with said carriage during movement thereof.

3. A main bed section having a chamber, a flange forming bar formed on said main bed section, a carriage having a flange forming bar, two pairs of links, each pair consisting of a link pivotally connected to the flange forming bar of said main bed section and of another link pivotally connected to the flange forming bar of said carriage, a link of each pair pivotally connected to a link of the other pair, the links of each pair being operatively connected to one another, an abutment extending forwardly from the rear wall of said main bed section, and a spring connecting said abutment with one of said links to urge such link into extended position and thereby to actuate said links in turn to eject said carriage.

4. A main bed section having a rear wall and two side walls to form a chamber open at the front side, a carriage, two pairs of links, each pair consisting of a. long link and a short link pivotally connected to one another, the long links being pivotally connected to one another, the long link of one pair being pivotally connected to said rear wall and the short link of such pair being pivotally connected to said carriage, the long link of the other pair being pivotally connected to said carriage and the short link of such other pair being pivotally connected to said rear wall, an ejecting spring connected to said rear wall and to the short link of such other pair to urge said latter short link outwardly from said wall, and an auxiliary bed section connected to said carriage.

5. A main bed section having a chamber open at the front side, a carriage, an ejector operatively connecting said carriage with said section to eject said carriage out of said chamber, an abutment on said carriage, a .rock shaft on said main bed section,- a catchfixed to said rock shaft, levers fixed to said rock shaft, pedals :on said levers extending laterally from beneath the lower edge of the side of said main bed section, a spring for normally maintaining said catch in position to engage said carriage abutment and anchor said carriage against ejection :but :yieldable in response to the actuation of either of said levers to release said carriage abutment and thereupon liberate said ejector to eject said carriage, :and an auxiliary bed section adapted to be connected 'to said carriage.

6. A main bed section, :a carriage, :an ejector operatively connecting said carriage with said section to eject said carriage relative to said main section, an abutment on said carriage, a rock shaft :onfsaid main'bed section, aracatch fixed to said Frock shaft, 'levers'fixed to'said rock shaft, pedals "on said levers extending laterally from the lower edge of the side of said main bed section, springs for normally maintaining said catch in position to engage said carriage abutment and anchor said carriage against ejection but yieldable in response to the actuation of either of said levers "to release .said carriage abutment and thereupon liberate said ejector to eject said carriage, and an auxiliary bed section adapted to be connected to said carriage, said catch having a :cam thereon to be engaged by'said carriage abutment when said carriage is moved into said chamber to actuate said catch against the tension of said spring until said cam clears said abutment and permits said catch to engage said abutment. V

7. A main bed section having a chamber, a carriage, two pairs of links, each pair consisting of a long link and a short link pivotally connected to one another, the long links being pivotally connected to one another, the long link of one pair being pivotally connected to said section and the short'i'link of such pair being pivotally connected tosaid carriage, the long link of the other pair being pivotally connected to said carriage and the short link of such other pairflbeing pivotally connected to said section, an ejecting spring connecting said section to said short link of such other pair near the outer end of said latter short link to urge such link into forwardly tion and the :short link of such pair being pivot ally connected to said carriage, the long link of the other pair being pivotally connectedto said carriage and the short link of such other pair being pivotally connected to said section, an ejecting spring connecting said section to the short link of such other :pair, an auxiliary bed section connected to said carriage, and means for normally anchoring said carriage in said chamber against ejection but yieldable to release said carriage and thereupon liberate said ejecting spring to eject said carriage.

9. In a convertible bed, in combination, a main bed section having an open front, an auxiliary bed section movable through the said open front from single bed position to double bed position,

said auxiliary bed section including a carrier,

means by which the carrier is readily detachable from the remainder of the auxiliary section, a

7 combined spring actuated ejector and equalizer connected tothe rear of the main section and to the carrier, a rock shaft on the rear of said main section, a catch rigid with said shaft, levers at the respective ends of said shaft, pedals on said levers extending laterally beneath the lower edges of the ends of the main section, an abut ment on said auxiliary section, spring means nor- 1 mally maintaining said catch in position to engage said abutment and anchor said auxiliary section against ejection but yieldable in response to the actuation of either of said pedals to release said abutment and thereupon liberate said ejector to eject said auxiliary section, said catch I having a cam thereon to be engaged by said abutment when said auxiliary section is moved into said main section to actuate said catch against the tension of the spring means until said cam clears said abutment and permits said catch to engage said abutment.

' JOSEPH MARTIN. 

